Cutting apparatus



Jan. 7, 1941. M. J. ROCHE 2,227,344

CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9, 1956 //v l/ENTOR M. J. ROCHE QAQOQE ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2i) Claims.

This invention relates to cutting apparatus, and more particularly to a cutting device embodying a hack-saw blade.

It is an object of this invention to provide a portable sawing arrangement adapted for facile operation by a hand.

In the preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a hand lever adapted to reciprocate a hack-saw blade across work. A compression spring operatively responsive to actuations of the lever imparts pressure to the hack-saw blade during the reciprocations thereof.

The following description will be more readily comprehended when taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:

l is a side elevation illustrating the invention in its preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig; l, and

3 is a View taken along the line 3-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, a fixed jaw H is formed with an integral longitudinal extension 12 on which is slidably mounted a collar l3 carrying 2. depending jaw Ml. The jaws disposed in opposing relation are clamped onto work 22 under control of a screw 55. It is understood that the opposing surfaces of the jaws are of a suitable gripping type. The jaw it may or may not be permanently attached to the end of the screw I5. This feature, to some extent, depends on the size of the work with which the invention is contemplated for use, and may be included or omitted as desired. If omitted, the jaws may be initially disposed about the work by hand.

screw 65 is mounted in a threaded aperture 2t provided in a member 2| depending from substantially the midpoint of the under surface of the extension l2, and is actuated by a wing ll; secured to the free end thereof. The member 2! is preferably fastened in a rigid position on the extension I2 by expanding a reduced end i? protruding from the latter. This is shown in Fig. 3. It is understood that the screw 15 is properly aligned to permit a facile engagement with the movable jaw M.

While the jaws are illustrated for use with cylindrical work, it is obvious that they may be also adapted for attachment to work of any cross section such, for example, as I-beams, channels, and similar irregular surfaces known to the metal art. For such uses, clamping jaws of convenient configuration are well known.

A U-shaped member 23 disposed such that its parallel sides are in horizontal planes is preferably aiiixed to substantially the mid-point of a vertical side of the extension I2 by screws 24, at. A member 25 offset horizontally with respect to the extension l2 has an inverted yoke 29 mounted rigidly on one end thereof by means of a rivet 2B. The yoke 29 is disposed in alignment with the parallel sides of the U-shaped member 23.

Formed on the upper horizontal surface of the yoke 29 is a boss 2'! which supports one end of a compression spring 28 whose opposite end engages the under surface of the upper parallel side of the U-shaped member 23. The boss 21 tends to hold the compression spring securely in position. The compression spring is utilized for a purpose that will be hereinafter explained.

Pivoted at 33 in the opposite end of the member 25 is a depending link 34 which is also pivotally fastened at 35 to a member 38. On the free end of the latter a hacksaw blade 3'! disposed in a cutting position is rigidly clamped by a removable internally tapered collar 38. The hack-saw blade is clamped onto and removed from the member 35 by sliding the internally tapered collar 38 therealong. Obviously, the means for attaching the hack-saw blade to the member 36 may be of any suitable type many of which are well known. The collar 38 is merely illustrative of one form of such means.

A bifurcated bell-crank 4| is rotatably mounted on a pivot 42 which is anchored in the free end of the extension l2. The pivot 42 serves also to rotatably mount the member 25 at substantially its midpoint. The bifurcated bell-crank 4! is also pivotally secured at 43 to the member 36 which, as previously seen, carries the hack-saw blade. A handle 39 formed integrally with the bifurcated bell-crank serves to actuate the latter for a purpose that will be hereinafter described.

In operation, the work is firmly engaged between the jaws H and M as shown in Fig. 1. Obviously, the angular position assumed by the extension l 2 relative to the horizontal axis of the work will depend on the location and accessibility of the latter. As a downward force is applied to the handle 39 shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the bell-crank 4! rotates on its pivot 42 in a clockwise direction thereby causing the member 36 to move to the left. This movement drives the hack-saw blade across the work in a cutting stroke.

As the member 36 is also pivotally joined to the member 25, the latter is also caused to rotate about the pivot 42 in a clockwise direction. This movement of the member 25 tends to compress the spring 28. The resistance to compression olfered by the spring 28 imparts through the member 25 and the link 34 a, downward pressure to the hack-saw blade as the latter moves forward in the cutting stroke.

When the handle 39 completes the full downward stroke shown in broken lines in Fig. l, the force is released. This allows the compression spring to return to its normal position whereby the member 25 is also returned to its normal position. At the same time, thehack-saw blade is moved upward and backward into position for the succeeding cutting stroke by a counterclockwise movement of the handle 39.

Thus, it is seen that actuations of the bellcrank M reciprocate the hack-saw blade across the work, and the compression spring 28 is alternately compressed and released during each reciprocation to impart an intermittent, or discon- 10 tinuous pressure to the hack-saw blade.

thermore, it is seen that the pressure is applied during the forward or cutting stroke and released during the backward or return stroke. The magnitude of this pressure depends, of

15 course, on the nature and cross-section of the material from which the compression spring 28 is formed, and therefore, may be predetermined depending on the work with which it is contemplated for use.

20 In view of. its compactness it is apparent that the invention is readily suited to expeditious and effective use in restricted areas, such, for example, as in the cutting of conduit located between the joists of building structures. Moreover, it is also 25 evident that the invention lends itself to facile use since but one hand is required to actuate the lever Which as previously explained hereinbefore, is adapted to reciprocate the hack-saw blade across the work end, at the same time, to apply 30 pressure to the hack-saw blade during the cutting stroke. In using the invention one hand is always free to meet any emergency that may arise, especially when working in a precarious position on temporary scafiolding in the field. This highly 35 desirable feature is of considerable moment when it is realized that the Well-known hack-saw requires the use of both hands during a cutting operation, one for driving and the other for guiding.

40 What is claimed is:

1. In a cutting apparatus, the combination comprising cutting means, means to move the cutting means longitudinally forward across work, and means opposing such movement of the cut- 45 ting means for imparting pressure thereto and upon the completion of such movement for effecting retraction of the cutting means longitudinally rearward across the Work.

2. In a sawing apparatus, the combination 50 comprising a pair of opposing members for clamping work therebetween, an extension formed integrally with one of the opposing members, a hack-saw blade, lever means rotatably afiixed to the extension and pivotally connected to the hack- 55 saw blade for moving the hack-saw blade longitudinally forward across the work, and means opposing such movement of the hack-saw blade for imparting pressure thereto and upon the completion of such movement for effecting retraction of the hack-saw blade longitudinally rearward across the work.

3. In a cutting apparatus, the combination comprising cutting means, means to move the cutting means longitudinally forward across work,

65 and a compression spring compressed in response to such movement to impart pressure to the cutting means and released after the completion of such movement to effect retraction of the cutting means longitudinally rearward across the work.

70 4. In a sawing device, the combination comprising a pair of opposing members clamping work therebetween, an extension formed integrally with one of the opposing members, a hack-saw blade, lever means rotatably mounted on the ex- 75 tension and pivotally connected to the hack-saw Fur blade for moving the hack-saw blade longitudinally forward across the work, and a spring compressed in response to such movement to impart pressure to the hack-saw blade and released after the completion of such movement to effect retraction of the hack-saw blade longitudinally rearward across the Work.

5. In a sawing apparatus, the combination comprising means clamped onto Work, cutting means, a member carrying the cutting means in a cutting position, a bell-crank lever rotatably affixed to the clamping means and pivotally supporting the member so as to reciprocate the cutting means across the work, and means comprising a compression spring and operatively responsive to actuations of the bell-crank lever for imparting discontinuous cutting pressure to the cutting means during the reciprocations thereof.

6. In a sawing apparatus, the combination comprising means clamped onto work, cutting means, a member carrying the cutting means in a cutting position, a bell-crank lever rotatably affixed to the clamping means and pivotally supporting the member so as to reciprocate the cutting means across the work, and a spring operatively responsive to actuations of the bell-crank lever and the member so as to be alternately compressed and released during each reciprocation of the cutting means whereby a discontinuous pressure is applied thereto.

7. In a sawing apparatus, the combination comprising means clamped onto work, cutting means, a member carrying the cutting means in a cutting position, a bell-crank lever rotatably affixed to the clamping means and pivotally supporting the member, the cutting means being driven in cutting strokes across the work as the member is reciprocated by actuating the bellcrank lever, a compression spring, and means responsive to the reciprocations of the member for alternately compressing and releasing the spring whereby pressure is applied to the cutting means during the cutting strokes.

8. In a sawing apparatus, the combination comprising a pair of opposing jaws clamping work therebetween, an extension formed integrally with one of the jaws, a hack-saw blade, a member carrying the hack-saw blade in a cutting position, a bell-crank lever rotatably affixed to the extension and pivotally supporting the member, 5 the hack-saw blade being driven in cutting i strokes across the work as the member is reciprocated by rotating the bell-crank lever, a compression spring, means rotatable coaxially with the bell-crank lever, means for pivotally conheating the rotatable means and the member, and means for operatively associating'the rotatable means and the compression spring, the rotatable means being responsive to reciprocations of the member to alternately compress and release the spring during each reciprocation whereby pressure is applied to the hack-saw blade during the cutting strokes.

9. In a sawing apparatus, the combination comprising opposing members clamping the work therebetween, an extension formed integrally with one of the members, a member ofiset with respect to and rotatably afiixed to the extension, a U- shaped member fastened to the extension and dis posed at one end of the offset member, a compression spring engaged between the U-shaped member and the associated end of the ofiset member, a hack-saw blade, a member carrying the hack-saw blade in a cutting position, a link pivotally connecting the offset member and the member carrying the hack-saw blade, and a lever rotatable coaxially with the offset member and pivotally connected With the member carrying the hack-saw blade, actuations of the lever effecting reciprocations of the member carrying the hack-saw blade to drive the latter in cutting strokes across the work and the offset member being responsive during each reciprocation of the member to alternately compress and release the blade during each cutting stroke.

10. In a sawing apparatus, the combination comprising a support for work, a compression spring, a member mounted rotatably on the support, means for operatively associating the compression spring and the member, a saw blade, an element carrying the saw blade in a cutting position, a link pivotally connecting the member and the element, and a bell-crank rotatable coaxilly with the member on the support and pivotally supporting the element, actuations of the bell-crank reciprocating the element to drive the saw blade in cutting strokes across the work and the member responsive during each reciprocation of the element to alternately compress and release the spring whereby pressure is applied to the saw blade during the cutting strokes.

11. In a sawing apparatus, the combination comprising a support for Work, a compression spring, a saw blade, a member carrying the saw blade in a cutting position, means for operatively associating the compression spring and the member, and lever means rotatably mounted on the support and pivotally supporting the member, the lever means being actuated to reciprocate the member for driving the saw blade in cutting strokes across the work and the compression spring being responsive to the reciprocations of the member to impart pressure to the saw blade during the cutting strokes.

12. In a sawing apparatus, the combination comprising a support for work, a compression spring, a saw blade, and lever means mounted rotatably on the support for driving the saw blade in cutting strokes across the work and pivotally connecting the saw blade and the compression spring in a manner such that the compression spring is controlled thereby to impart pressure to the saw blade during the cutting strokes.

13. A cutting apparatus comprising cutting means, means to actuate the cutting means in longitudinal cutting strokes across work, and means opposing such actuations of the cutting means for imparting pressure thereto during the cutting strokes and for automatically retracting the cutting means in longitudinal noncutting strokes after the completion of the cutting strokes.

14. A cutting apparatus comprising means clamped onto work, cutting means, a member carrying the cutting means, a bell-crank lever rotatably affixed to the clamping means and pivotally supporting the member so as to reciprocate the cutting means across the work, and means comprising a compression spring operatively opposing actuations of the bell-crank lever for imparting pressure to the cutting means during the cutting strokes and for retracting the cutting means in non-cutting strokes after the completion of the cutting strokes.

15. A cutting apparatus comprising means clamped onto work, cutting means, a member carrying the cutting means, a bell-crank lever rotatably affixed to the clamping means and pivotally supporting the member so as to reciprocate the cutting means across the work, and compressible means opposing actuations of the bell-crank lever to be alternately compressed and released during each reciprocation of the cutting means, the compressible means in the compressed state serving to impart pressure to the cutting means and in the released state to both remove pressure from the cutting means and to return the cutting means to a non-cutting position after the completion of the cutting strokes.

16. In a cutting apparatus, the combination comprising cutting means, means to actuate the cutting means in longitudinal cutting strokes across work, and means operatively responsive to such actuations of the cutting means for imparting progressively increasing pressure to the cutting means during the cutting strokes and for automatically retracting the cutting means in longitudinal non-cutting strokes after the relaxation of the pressure.

17. A cutting apparatus comprising in combination means clamped onto work, cutting means, means mounted movably on the clamping means to actuate the cutting means forward across the work, and means mounted on the clamping means and operatively connected to the actuating means in such manner as to oppose the actuating means to impart pressure to the cutting means during the forward actuation thereof and to retract the cutting means after the completion of the forward actuation thereof.

18. A cutting apparatus comprising in combination means clamped onto work, cutting means, means mounted movably on the clamping means to actuate the cutting means forward across the work, compressible means mounted on the clamping means, and means cooperatively connecting the compressible means and the actuating mean-s such that the compressible means opposes the actuating means to impart pressure to the cutting means during the forward actuation thereof and to retract the cutting means after the completion of the forward actuation thereof.

19. A cutting apparatus comprising in combination means clamped onto work, cutting means, means mounted movably on the clamping means to actuate the cutting means forward across the work, compressible means mounted on the clamping means, and means cooperatively associating the actuating means and the compressible means such that the compressible means is compressed by the actuating means to impart pressure to the cutting means during the forward actuation thereof and is released by the actuating means to retract the cutting means after the completion of the forward actuation thereof.

20. A sawing apparatus comprising in combination means clamped onto work, cutting means, means rotatably affixed to the clamping means for reciprocating the cutting means across the work in cutting and non-cutting strokes, compressible means, and means cooperatively associating the reciprocating means and the compressible means and responsive to the reciprocating means alternately to compress and release the compressible means during each reciprocation of the cutting means to impart pressure thereto and to effect retraction thereof during the respective cutting and non-cutting strokes.

MATTI-IEV J. ROCHE. 

